whooping cough- did you have to book it yourself? how did you react to it?

Just had my whooping cough jab after SIL (nurse practitioner who specialises in jabs) recommended I get it booked/done between 28-32 wks as that's when it gives baby best protection. I'm 31 wks now and nothing was ever mentioned in any MW appointments apart from it being recommended at booking in, so I just got it done at health centre/practice nurse. 1 hour later my arm is feeling quite heavy and achy. Hoping it doesn't get much worse!

I booked it with my GP after I got a letter to my house telling me that they advise pregnant women to get it. Jab does not hurt when being done but for 4-5 days after I had a very sore arm, bit swollen and red and could not lie on it at all.

Book in with your practice nurse at GP surgery. Your midwife should advise you to do this, but don't wait for them if they've forgotten. Ideally it should be given between 28-32 weeks, but can be given after that - it's just that your baby gets maximum benefits if you have it between these weeks. This is because it takes a couple of weeks for your body to make your antibodies peak and then baby slowly gets them from your blood over the weeks after this - but apparently they cross over to baby best after 30 weeks. I had mine yesterday and apart from a slight ache in arm where it was given, am absolutely fine. It's no different to any other travel injection or booster you might have. Very safe and protects your baby from whopping cough until they have their own jabs. Whooping cough is a big risk at the moment.

Booked it myself at 32 weeks. Arm was sore for about a week but also reacted really bad to it! I had a temperature, vomiting and had to lay down for a day with a fan felt like death! Although no one I've spoken to IRL had any side effects like this, so might have been non related just came on about 3 hours after!